Swim England Artistic Swimming

The home of artistic swimming in England

Reading Royals take fourth consecutive Technical Team title

Reading Royals Artistic Swimming Club finished a successful day at the Swim England Artistic Swimming National Junior and Senior Championships with a gold medal in the Technical Team event.

This is the fourth consecutive Technical Team title for the Reading squad, after winning in 2019, 2021 and 2022.

The team performed an alien-themed routine and scored 65.0161 overall, breaking down into 20.6000 for execution, 19.5000 for impression and 24.9161 for elements.

Reading Royals head coach, Kelly-Anne Russell, said: “I’m really happy with the girls. It was really hard because there’s all the new rules and the new elements, so we weren’t sure how it was going to be.

“We tried to keep calm, keep it together and try and deliver the best they could – and they did today so I’m really pleased with them.

“It feels really, really good to retain the title – amazing.”

On what she is looking forward to for day two of the competition, Kelly-Anne added: “I’m just really hoping, because Free Team is more chilled, it’s not as nerve-racking for myself and the swimmers, so I’m hoping that we can just enjoy it more and smash out a really good swim.”

The team was made up of Cara Zeidler, Elena Smith-Fernandez, Florence Blinkhorn, Holly Hughes, Lily Halasi, Rebecca Saunders, Sofija Dakovic and Tara Dakovic, with Beatrice Askar in reserve.

Monumental moment for Rugby

In second place was Rugby Swimming Club, making the podium for the first time ever in a team event at this championships.

Their team of Bethany Clarke, Charlotte Putt, Eve Young, India Townsend, Jadine Carroll, Lola Dudkowsky, Olivia Tyers and Poppy Williams, with Matilda John and Olivia Eaves in reserve, scored 62.9086 to clinch the silver medal by just 0.5.

The bronze medal went to City of Bristol Swimming Club, scoring 62.2194.

The swimmers were Laurel Allen, Robyn Ashworth, Katherine Boitsidis, Casja Jonsson, Rosie Rallings, Nia Rushton, Marie-Ange Siegfried and Amelie Williams, with Alysia Garrett and Naelle Winship in reserve.

Story written by Jess Arnold.

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